Recently we went hiking with friends all the way to the summit of Le Parmelan (1834 metres) the prominent peak jutting out of the north edge of the Alps a little west of Lake Annecy. It’s a huge, rugged massif with the occasional hiking trail, but not much else. I, of course, was eyeing the cycling possibilities.

An alternate route to Col du Galibier from the Maurienne valley without taking Col du Télégraphe – not easy. Map, profiles, photos. Galibier was closed above the tunnel, but I managed to get to the Col.

Col de Chérel is another little known, deserted, tough, climb, from Lake Annecy. This is a relatively tough, truly quiet, loop in the Bauges Alps. Note: The top several kilometres of both cols are unpaved roads – I had my 29er mountain bike.